????? "I can't believe I'm wearing this."

????? "I happen to find you quite attractive in it, Benny."

????? Chris twitched as he looked his reflection in the pond. "I look so... so... not-me."

????? Steve smiled as he peered at themselves, the sunlight bouncing off of the shimmery water. "I think you look cute."

????? "I don't believe you," Chris murmured, a small pout forming on his lips. "I look..."

????? "You fit the custom," Steve commented, fixing up his Canadian lover's blue-and-white kimono. "Now, come. We should be heading to the shrine soon."

????? "Why should we? We don't believe in Buddist gods..."

????? "It's Shinto, and yes, for the simple reason that we'll be more in tune with the culture around us."

????? "Heh," Chris chuckled, shaking his head as he was pulled by the arm and practically dragged down the cobblestone pathway of the Japanese garden. "I never figured you as someone who would actually appreciate culture."

????? "I may act uncultured on television, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate culture outside of it," Steve answered with a quick-witted smile. Sighing, he stopped pulling Benoit, holding his wrists and looked into his eyes, emploring with him silently.

????? A few seconds of quiet resistance passed until Benoit narrowed his eyes and glared at Steve, removing his wrists with a snap. "I hate your puppy-dog eyes."

????? Steve grinned, wrapping his arm with Chris'. "You love them, like how I love your kimono."

????? "Tch. At least yours looks good on you."

????? Steve stopped in his tracks, nearly falling over his own feet-- and he was wearing sandals. "R-Really?"

????? Chris blushed lightly, releasing what he had just instantly, automatically said aloud. He sighed, facing the music and gazing at Steve intently in his bright blue eyes. "Of course. The deep blue and the gold trimmings... it matches you. Blue for your eyes... gold for your heart."

????? Steve felt himself melting on the inside, falling deep as he heard Chris heart-felt words. He held Chris close, kissing him as hard as he could, knocking the breath out of his lover. "Aishiteru," he whispered huskily into Chris' ear.

????? Chris smiled as he tried to stop the blush on his cheeks. "I know what that one means," he wittily said, wrapping his hand with Steve's. "Back at ya."

????? Steve grinned happily, tightening his grip with Chris'. The two of them walked down the pathway, heading to the shrine. "Thank you, Chris... for the trip."

????? "Anything for you, morning star," Chris whispered, stealing a kiss from Steve's lips again.

????? Steve sighed happily, his head resting on Chris' shoulder. They continued to walk together, heading out of the garden and pass the bridge over the stream until the shrine was ahead of them.

????? "I'm gonna thank the Gods for making anime."

????? "Tch. Baka."

????? "HEY!!"


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